Thermoplastic rubber

ABSTRACT

PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR) is a novel, composite rubber material technology principally compounded from EOL, ambient ground, whole tires through the management of a unique process governed by the application of advanced, quantum field physics. The value from this technology is to provide a virgin-material-analog that may be readily integrated at high ratio, into new tire construction using conventional tire chemistry and manufacturing techniques resulting in a sustainable and significant, positive cost-benefit ratio as compared to current tire manufacturing economics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/159,965, filed Jan. 27, 2021, titled THERMOPLASTIC RUBBER, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/966,728, filed Jan. 28, 2020, titled THERMOPLASTIC RUBBER, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/968,009, filed Jan. 30, 2020, titled THERMOPLASTIC RUBBER, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR) is a novel, composite rubber material technology principally compounded from EOL, ambient ground, whole tires through the management of a unique process governed by the application of advanced, quantum field physics. The value from this technology is to provide a virgin-material-analog that may be readily integrated at high ratio, into new tire construction using conventional tire chemistry and manufacturing techniques resulting in a sustainable and significant, positive cost-benefit ratio as compared to current tire manufacturing economics.

BACKGROUND

In 2015, end-use markets consumed 87.9% percent by weight of the scrap tires generated in the U.S. The total volume of scrap tires consumed in end use markets in the U.S. reached approximately 3551 thousand tons of tires. RMA estimates that about 4038 thousand tons of tires were generated in the U.S. in 2015. Of those tires, 25.8% were used to produce ground rubber, 48.6% for tire derived fuel, 11.4% were land disposed, 7.0% were used in civil engineering, and 7.1% went to miscellaneous uses (0.7% to electric arc furnace, 1.3% to reclamation projects, 2.6% were exported, and 2.6% went to other uses). In 1990, only eleven percent of tires were consumed on a per tire basis. Positive end-use market results in 2015 were primarily the result of high rates of TDF use and lower exports. In the long term, the need to expand all economically viable and environmentally sound markets for scrap tires is still an imperative. Scrap tires were consumed by a variety of scrap tire markets, including tire-derived fuel, civil engineering and ground rubber applications. Other smaller markets and legal landfilling consumed the remaining annually-generated tires.

Key scrap tire markets include tire derived fuel, ground rubber, civil engineering and other markets. In tire derived fuel applications, scrap tires are used as a cleaner and more economical alternative to coal as fuel in cement kilns, pulp and paper mills and industrial and utility boilers. Ground rubber applications utilize approximately 1020 thousand tons of scrap tires, or over 25 percent of the volume of scrap tires generated each year. Ground rubber is produced by grinding scrap tires into size defined pieces. Ground rubber applications include new rubber products, playground and other sports surfacing and rubber-modified asphalt. Ground rubber also includes larger pieces of rubber used as landscaping mulch, and loose fill playground material. The playground and mulch market was the most dynamic segment in the ground rubber market during this period. The asphalt market uses ground rubber to modify the asphalt binder used in road paving, resulting in quieter, more durable roads. The civil engineering market consumes approximately 274 thousand tons of tires per year, about 7.7 percent of the total tires to market, and consists of tire shreds used in road and landfill construction, septic tank leach fields, alternative daily cover and other construction applications. Additional smaller markets for scrap tires exist that consume approximately 7% of annually generated scrap tires. These markets include tires consumed in electric arc furnaces (steel manufacturing), professionally engineered tire bales and products punched, pressed or stamped from scrap tires. Total tire rubber consumed in ground rubber markets is about 1.36 billion pounds. The total scrap tires diverted to these ground rubber markets is about 1.02 million tons (62 million tires). The percent of total pounds of ground rubber consumed in the market in 2015 is as follows: sport surfaces 25%, playground mulch 22%, molded/extruded products 35%, asphalt 15%, automotive uses 2%, and export 1%.

Stockpiles of scrap tires historically began to be created around the 1960s and 1970s when tires were diverted from landfills, but recycling markets for them were not functional. Stockpiles proved to be prone to catastrophic fires which created air and water pollution.

Worldwide rubber tire production is responsible for generating approximately 99% of worldwide, end-of-life (EOL) tire scrap. About 1.1 billion scrap tires are generated annually, corresponding to roughly 12 million tons of scrap tire. Due to the punishing physical properties required of a new tire, tires embody a carefully engineered weaving together of steel and fiber cords with a mineral and carbon-filled rubber blend, all cross linked to a highly tenacious structure. The EOL tire is challenging to breakdown to its original essential elements. The potentially highest value component—the rubber—is particularly difficult to reclaim, due to the vulcanization process it is subjected to. As a result EOL tires that are no longer suitable for use on vehicles due to wear or irreparable damage are typically either subject to pyrolysis (e.g., to generate energy for use in cement manufacturing), or ground up to be used as filler (e.g., in asphalt pavement, new tires, construction or landscaping materials).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description and examples illustrate example embodiments of the present technology in detail. Those of skill in the art will recognize that there are numerous variations and modifications of this technology that are encompassed by its scope. Accordingly, the description of an embodiment should not be deemed to limit the scope of the present technology.

Introduction

An ambient, end of life (EOL), ground tire rubber (GTR) particle in the size range of approx. 600 microns (30 mesh), has a cross section composed of either the old tire tread or the tire side wall or a combination of the two. It may be generally characterized as a heterogeneous matrix of an interpenetrating, cross linked, elastomer network filled with inorganic substances, primarily carbon. Depending upon whether it is primarily tire tread or sidewall in origin the primary entangled elastomers will be natural rubber (NR) or styrene butadiene/butadiene rubber (BR S-BR), with the BR and S-BR typically having the larger mass component in the tread for better wear and the sidewall having an NR bias for improved flexural qualities. The crosslink may generally be described as elemental sulfur and/or a complex compound incorporating sulfur as its principal element, e.g., a polysulfidic chemical.

During tire construction the interpenetrating elastomer networks are formed using a sequential crosslink of the predominant elastomer (NR or S-BR) followed by the crosslink of the secondary elastomer, such that the secondary elastomer is “bent” to conform to the already vulcanized, higher strength primary elastomer. This technique imparts mechanical characteristics that are retained in the individual GTR particle.

A single vehicle tire, after being stripped of steel and fiber reinforcement will yield approximately sixteen pounds (16 lbs) of reusable GTR, with truck tires yielding more. Over one billion EOL tires are generated worldwide annually. About 50% are consumed as low value fuel. Where possible, maximizing the reuse of this raw material for its proven mechanical properties represents a substantial challenge, but, to the extent achieved, a resource recovery value of as much as 200:1 is observed when comparing its possible re-use in new tire construction to being consumed in a furnace for its BTU content.

Notably, recent detailed studies of the environmental advantages such a reversal of EOL-GTR usage, maximized, predicts that atmospheric carbon contribution might be reduced by the equivalent of shutting down 14 coal fired power plants (300,000 rail cars of coal) or removing six million vehicles from the roads or planting an additional 62 million acres of forests (equivalent to an area the size of the state of Arizona) for carbon sequestration.

Rubber-containing crumb is manufactured from two primary feedstocks: tire buffings, a byproduct of tire retreading, whole tire, and scrap tire rubber. Scrap tire rubber comes from three types of tires: passenger car tires; truck tires; and off-the-road tires. End product yields for each of these tire types are affected by the tire's construction, strength and weight. On average, 10 to 16 pounds of end-of-life tire crumb can be derived from one passenger tire. Other sources of rubber-containing crumb includes products containing or made using recycled rubber-containing crumb, e.g., new rubber products, playground surfacing, rubber mulch, drainage aggregate, construction fill material, scraps from manufacturing, and the like.

Tires are composite structures containing a number of components. The tire carcass is composed of the tread, bead, sidewall, shoulder, and ply. Tires are formed from components such as natural and/or synthetic rubber, cords, and filler. The polymer most commonly employed for the tread and encasement of the cords is a blend of NR and S-BR copolymer. Cords form the ply and bead of the tire, and provide tensile strength necessary to contain the inflation pressure. Cords can comprise steel, natural fibers such as cotton or silk, and synthetic fibers such as nylon or Kevlar. Fillers can include silica and carbon black. A representative tire can comprise one or more of: synthetic rubber, natural rubber, sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds, silica, phenolic resin, oil (aromatic, naphthenic, and/or paraffinic), fabric (polyester, nylon, etc.), petroleum waxes, pigments (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, etc.), carbon black, fatty acids, miscellaneous inert materials, and steel wire.

The typical passenger tire comprises 14% natural rubber, 27% synthetic rubber, 28% carbon black, 14-15% steel, and 16-17% fabric, fillers, accelerators, antiozonants, and other miscellaneous components. The average weight of a new passenger car tire is 25 lbs., and for a scrap passenger tire 22 lbs. Truck tires typically contain 27% natural rubber, 14% synthetic rubber, 28% carbon black, 14-15% steel, and 16-17% fabric, fillers, accelerators, antiozonants, and other miscellaneous components. The average weight of a new truck tire is 120 lbs., and for a scrap truck tire 110 lbs. Other types of tires can contain higher amounts of synthetic and/or natural rubber, e.g., 70% (by weight) rubber, 15% steel, 3% fiber, and 12% of other materials such as inert fillers. Rubber is found in tire components including tread, innerliner, beads, belts, and the like. The percent rubber by weight in a new passenger tire is typically as follows: 32.6% in tread; 1.7% in base, 21.9% in sidewall, 5.0% in bead apex, 1.2% in bead insulation, 11.8% in fabric insulation; 9.5% in insulation of steel cord, 12.4% in innerliner, and 3.9% in undercushion.

The rubber compounds employed in a typical tire, along with associated materials, are set forth in Table 1. The methods described herein are suitable for processing tire tread, base, sidewall, as well as innerliner, and are also suitable for processing other materials containing vulcanized (or otherwise cross linked) natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and isobutylene-isoprene rubber. As further described herein, the other components, e.g., carbon black, present in EOL tire or other vulcanized-rubber containing articles of manufacture may in some embodiments remain in the rubber subjected to the processes described herein, with no processing conducted to impact the properties or amounts of the other component(s). In other embodiments, the rubber may be subjected to further processes to enrich or minimize these additional components, or change their properties.

TABLE 1 Tread Base Sidewall Innerliner (PHR) (PHR) (PHR) (PHR) Natural Rubber 50.0 100.0 75.0 Styrene-Butadiene Rubber 50.0 25.0 Isobutylene-Isoprene Rubber 100.0 Carbon Black (Grade N110) 50.0 15.0 20.0 Carbon Black (Grade N330) 25.0 35.0 Carbon Black (Grade N765) 50.0 Processing Oil 7.5 5.0 5.0 3.0 Antioxidant 1.0 0.75 1.0 1.0 Antioxidant Wax 2.0 Stearic Acid 2.0 4.0 3.0 1.5 Zinc Oxidant 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Accelerator (High) 1.0 0.7 Accelerator (Middle) 1.25 0.4 Accelerator (Low) 0.4 Sulfur 2.5 3.0 2.8 2.0 *PHR = Per Hundred Rubber, parts on a weight basis *Carbon grade = ASTM grading: Particle size and structure of carbon are different.

There are approximately 2.5 pounds of steel belts and bead wire in a passenger car tire. This material is made from high carbon steel with a nominal tensile strength of 2750 MN/m2. The steel tire cord composition of a typical tire is set forth in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Steel Belts Bead Wire Carbon 0.67-0.73% 0.60% min. Manganese 0.40-0.70% 0.40-0.70% Silicon 0.15-0.03% 0.15-0.30% Phosphorus 0.03% max. 0.04% max. Sulfur 0.03% max. 0.04% max. Copper Trace Trace Chromium Trace Trace Nickel Trace Trace Coating 66% Copper 98% Brass 34% Zinc 2% Tin

Whole tires can be ground to yield rubber particles mixed with other components of the tire. Methods for producing rubber containing particles from tires are known in the art. The used tires (or shreds or granules thereof) can be subjected to an optional cleaning step (e.g., a water wash). Tires can be recycled by subjecting them to an initial shredding step, then subjecting the shreds to a granulation process to yield an initial granulate having dimensions of 1-3 cm. Grinding can be conducted under ambient conditions (e.g., in a granulator or a cracker mill) or cryogenic conditions.

Ambient grinding is a multi-step processing technology that uses a series of machines (usually three) to separate the rubber, metal, and fabric components of the tire. Whether using granulation equipment or cracker mills, the first processing step typically reduces the original feedstock to small chips. The second machine in the series will grind the chips to separate the rubber from the metal and fabric. Then a finishing mill will grind the material to the required product specification. After each processing step, the material is classified by sifting screens that return oversize pieces to the granulator or mill for further processing. Magnets are used throughout the processing stages to remove wire and other metal contaminants.

In the final stage, fabric is removed by air separators. Rubber particles produced in the granulation process generally have a cut surface shape and rough texture, with similar dimensions on the cut edges.

Cracker mills use two large rotating rollers with serrations cut in one or both of them. The roll configurations are what make them different. These rollers operate face-to-face in close tolerance at different speeds. Product size is controlled by the clearance between the rollers. Cracker mills are low speed machines operating at about 30-50 RPM. The rubber usually passes through two to three mills to achieve various particle size reductions and further liberate the steel and fiber components. These mills do not have screens built into the mill and as such the mill itself does not control the final particle. A stand-alone screening system will separate “sized” particles from oversize granules following the mill and re-circulate the oversize products. The particles produced by the cracker mill are typically long and narrow in shape and have a high surface area.

Cryogenic processing uses liquid nitrogen or other materials/methods to freeze tire chips or rubber particles prior to size reduction. Most rubber becomes embrittled or “glass-like” at temperatures below −80° C. The use of cryogenic temperatures can be applied at any stage of size reduction of scrap tires. Typically, the size of the feed material is a nominal 2 inch chip or smaller. The material can be cooled in a tunnel style chamber, immersed in a “bath” of liquid nitrogen, or sprayed with liquid nitrogen to reduce the temperature of the rubber or tire chip. The cooled rubber is size-reduced in an impact type reduction unit, centrifuge, or hammer mill. This process reduces the rubber to particles ranging from ¼ inch minus to 30 mesh, with the majority of the particle distribution between ¼ inch minus and 20 mesh. A typical throughput is 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per hour. Cryogenic grinding avoids heat degradation of the rubber and produces a high yield of product that is free of almost all fiber or steel, which is liberated during the process.

Wet grinding, is a processing technology used to manufacture particles that are 40 mesh and finer. The wet grind process mixes partially refined crumb rubber particles with water creating a slurry. This slurry is then conveyed through size reduction and classification equipment. When the desired size is achieved, the slurry is conveyed to equipment for removing the majority of the water and then drying. Aside from the use of water, the same basic principles that are used in an ambient process are utilized in a wet grinding process. The major advantage for a wet grind process is the ability to create fine mesh crumb rubber. While products as coarse as 40 mesh are produced, the majority of the particles are 60 mesh and finer. A percentage of the overall throughput is finer than 200 mesh. Another advantage for a wet grind process is the cleanliness and consistency of the crumb rubber produced. The process washes the crumb rubber particles. The wet process removes the fine particles of fiber from the crumb rubber making a very clean product.

The initial granulate contains steel, rubber, and textile components. The steel is typically recovered using a multistage magnetic separation process to minimize the loss of rubber. This can entail a first step utilizing a high strength twin pole overband cross belt separator magnet to remove metal containing particles in a first step. The second step involves a magnetic drum separator or magnetic pulley utilizing high strength rare earth magnets. The axial magnetic field causes the metal containing particles to tumble and release entrapped rubber. For fine rubber material that is fed into a powder grinder, a plate magnet suspended close to the product over the conveyor can lift and remove fine wire fragments. Testing can be conducted to determine metal content, e.g., by using a magnetometer.

The fiber can be recovered using modified gin machinery as known in the textile industry. A two step process is typically employed, where clean fiber is removed from EOL tire crumb using a modified gin cylinder cleaner (used in the textile industry to remove foreign matter from seed cotton). Partially cleaned crumb is subjected to a second step to remove fiber, which can still contain some rubber particles. The resulting cleaned EOL tire crumb is then collected for packaging or other use. See, e.g., W. Stanley Anthony, Applied Engineering in Agriculture, Vol. 22(4): 563-570.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has standards for specifying different size ranges of crumb rubber, such as 30 mesh or 80 mesh. The range of particle sizes can be determined by sieve analysis, consisting of shaking and tapping a measured quantity of a crumb rubber sample through a specified number of test sieves over a specified time. The amount of sample retained on each screen is weighed and results are given as the percentage of sample retained on each screen. The recommended procedure for sieve analysis using the Rotap method is provided in ASTM 5644. Typical crumb rubber sizes directed to certain products and uses include the following: molded and extruded products, 4-100 mesh; asphalt modification, 16-40 mesh; sport surfacing, ¼″-40 mesh; automotive products, 10-40 mesh; tires, 80-100 mesh; rubber and plastic blends, 10-40 mesh; and construction, 10-40 mesh.

There are no unified U.S. standards for processing EOL tire rubber crumb; however, a suitable EOL tire rubber crumb for use in interlinked substitution typically has a low fiber content (less than 0.02% of total weight), low metal content (less than 0.01% of total weight), high consistency, and the particles are preferably sized for 100% pass through 16 mesh. In some embodiments, it may be acceptable to have particles of larger size, e.g., 14, 12, or even 10 mesh. For example, 10-40 mesh crumb rubber (e.g., 30 mesh, or 25-35 mesh) yields satisfactory results when processed according to the methods described herein. Smaller particles, e.g., 41-200 mesh, can be employed and may enable more efficient interlinked substitution; however, a reduction in particle size will incur greater expense in manufacture of the crumb of the specified size. Larger particles, e.g., less than 10 mesh (4-9 mesh) can also be subjected to the methods, e.g., for particle size reduction purposes.

ASTM D5603 Standard Classification for Rubber Compounding Materials—Recycled Vulcanizate Particulate, classifies vulcanized particulate rubber according to maximum particle size, size distribution and parent materials including whole tires, tire peels, buffings generated from the tire tread and shoulder, buffings generated from tire tread, shoulder and sidewall and non-tire rubber.

End-of-Life Tire Crumb Characterization ELT crumb containing vulcanized rubber and having the desired particle sizes can be manufactured or obtained from any suitable commercial source.

The ELT crumb is typically of such a size that 100% can pass through a 16 mesh screen, and may have a narrow size distribution (e.g., no smaller than 20 mesh and no larger than 16 mesh) or may have a broader size distribution (e.g., significant contents of fines and various other particle sizes less than 16 mesh). The crumb rubber is typically cleaned of fiber and wire to a purity of 99.5 wt. % (i.e., 0.5 wt. % or less of fiber and wire).

If the sulfur content of the ELT crumb is unknown, representative samples of the ELT crumb can be tested to determine sulfur content (typically measured in parts per hundred weight), such that a controlled amount of reactant can be used in the extraction process, thereby avoiding overutilization or underutilization of reactant. A stoichiometric amount of reactant to sulfur is typically employed; however, larger or smaller amounts can also be advantageously employed. Any suitable method can be employed to determine the sulfur compound; however, a nitric compound extraction process can be advantageously employed. ASTM D4578 describes standard test methods to apply to rubber chemicals for determination of percent sulfur. These test methods cover the determination of solvent insoluble materials in a sulfur-containing sample. The two test methods are: (1) Test Method A, Extraction by Carbon Disulfide, and (2) Test Method B, Extraction by Toluene. If there are no other solvent insoluble materials present in the sulfur-containing sample, the test methods determine the insoluble sulfur content directly. If other materials are also present, additional testing is necessary to identify what portion of the insolubles (e.g., carbon black, silica, or other inert fillers) is insoluble sulfur.

Sulfur Crosslinking of Rubber

Elemental sulfur has cyclic eight atoms molecules at room temperature. In the presence of accelerators and activators, elemental sulfur generates sulfur fragments that react with reactive groups of rubbers in the process of interlinked substitution to create cross-links such as:

EOL tire rubber crumb is subjected to a chemical treatment with a reactant to induce interlinked substitution. The reactant comprises a metal salt having octahedral molecular geometry and a melting point in the range of 100-150° C. Examples of suitable reactants include cobalt acetate (CAS 6147-53-1; Co(OAc)2,) and copper acetate (CAS 6046-93-1; Cu(OAc)2,), although other reactants can be employed, as discussed elsewhere herein. The reactant is typically employed at from 0.1 to 5.0 parts reactant per hundred parts vulcanized rubber (by weight); however, higher or lower amounts may also be employed in certain embodiments. The amount of reactant employed can be increased or decreased depending upon the content of sulfur in the EOL tire rubber crumb to be treated, or the desired degree of interlinked substitution to be obtained. For example, a ratio of reactant molecules to sulfur bonds of 1:1, 4:6, 1:2, or any other suitable ratio can be employed to achieve a preselected degree of interlinked substitution.

Regenerating an Interpenetrating Elastomer Network from Ground Tire Rubber Particles

RISM thermoplastic rubber (also referred to herein as “PTR”) may be prepared according to the methods disclosed in US Patent Publication No. 2019/0040258 A1, US Patent Publication No. 2019/0055383 A1, and PCT International Publication No. WO 2018/200340, the contents of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Primary Reactor Activity

Beginning with a debris-free, 600 micron (approx.), vulcanized spherical crumb, whole-tire feedstock; a chemical agent is gas infused at ca 99.7/0.3 mass ratio, whereupon the particle is then subjected to a controlled, spectrum intensity to mass/charge (m/z) quanta which cleaves, without functionally altering, selective bond(s) of the sulfidic-hydrocarbon bridge thereby liberating elastomer strands within each individual rubber granule. This procedure is continuously performed in-bulk within a specially constructed, mixer-extruder environment, at ambient temperature. Upon exiting the reactor this process yields, in-bulk, individual moieties with a dimensional topography of ca one micron (thick) X twenty two millimeter wafers (about the surface area of a rupee, won, yen, yuen or dime, etc.). The energized wafers readily aggregate to neighboring wafers.

Result

At this production point in the PTR process the original EOL composite will behave as a quasi-thermoplastic/thermotropic compound which may be readily mixed into virgin elastomers including traditional curing and process agents; then subsequently may be fully re-vulcanized. Conversion from a 600 micron spherical landscape to an micron-thin wafer creates: 1) a surface area to volume ratio (SAVR) which is three orders of magnitude greater than the original EOL rubber particle, 2) a substantial rise in atomic surface reactivity of both the carbon black and the elastomer structure(s) and 3) a bonded rubber-to-filler ratio increase (characteristically 25% & 40%) of >1.5× in both NR and SBR morphologies, respectively.

Upon exiting the reactor phase, bulk material may then be transferred to a subsequent process station for further functionalization and/or hybridization; as guided by prior performance specifications. Tread vs sidewall vs auto vs truck EOL tire carcass performance chemistry bias is, at this production point, substantially mitigated by the highly divided and disperse nature of the original ground tire by the PTR process per se; i.e. the permutation of the material has a new, definitive character. This is metaphorical to the act of mixing blue and yellow paint which yields a green paint; whereupon the original pigments can no longer be distinguished from the compounded pigments. Importantly, however, any remaining bias may be fully eliminated to achieve a consistent, targeted performance end-use by selective, post-reactor hybridization.

Packaging shall be as a continuous sheet or pelletized; with a final COA and certification as to all agreed-upon properties.

Other

REACH Compliance can be pursued. Typical PTR/hybridization is in the range of 90/10 to 70/30 by mass. Custom engineered samples can be provided for specified sample configuration(s).

Exemplary Methods, Apparatus and Compositions

Method 1: A method for preparing a thermoplastic rubber, comprising: introducing a slurry comprising vulcanized rubber particles and an organometallic compound into an electromechanical reactor configured to generate a phase space environment with cavitation, so as to induce delamination of a rubber matrix within the vulcanized rubber particles as coordinated with disrupting sulfidic linkages.

Method 2: The method of Method 1, further comprising reestablishing dislocated sulfidic linkages to establish within the matrix sulfur bridge cross linked, re-aligned, laminates.

Method 3: The method of Method 1, wherein delamination is associated with a portion of rigid sulfidic bridges of the vulcanized rubber particles becoming unbound at an original methyl carbocation while remaining tethered at an original allylic carbocation.

Method 4: The method of Method 1, wherein the organometallic compound comprises a metal having octahedral molecular geometry.

Method 5: The method of Method 1, wherein the organometallic compound comprises a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺.

Method 6: The method of Method 1, wherein the organometallic compound comprises an organic anion as a ligand to the metal ion.

Method 7: The method of Method 6, wherein the organic anion comprises acetate ion.

Method 8: The method of Method 1, wherein the organometallic compound is copper acetate.

Method 9: The method of Method 1, wherein the organometallic compound is a metal salt that undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid in a range of 115-150° C.

Method 10: The method of Method 1, wherein a temperature in the electromechanical reactor is maintained at ambient by use of a cooling jacket or cooling coils.

Method 11: The method of Method 1, wherein the vulcanized rubber crumbs have a particle size greater than 200 mesh.

Matrix 13: A thermoplastic rubber-based heterogeneous matrix comprising an interpenetrating network of two or more elastomers, the network comprising sulfur bridge cross linked, re-aligned, intermingled laminates having an average spacing of from 10 nm to 5 microns, wherein each laminate comprises one of the two or more elastomers.

Matrix 14: The matrix of Matrix 13, further comprising carbon black particles dispersed amongst the laminates.

Matrix 15: The matrix of Matrix 13, wherein the two or more elastomers comprise virgin natural rubber and an elastomer derived from ground tire rubber.

Matrix 16: The matrix of Matrix 13, wherein the two or more elastomers comprise virgin styrene butadiene/butadiene rubber and an elastomer derived from ground tire rubber.

Matrix 17: The matrix of Matrix 13, wherein two of the two or more elastomers have different backbone chemistries.

Matrix 18: The matrix of Matrix 13, wherein the two of the two or more elastomers having the different backbone chemistries are woven together and then cross linked separate from one another.

Sheet 19: A sheet of the thermoplastic rubber-based heterogeneous matrix of Matrix 13.

Sheet 20: The sheet of Sheet 19, exhibiting an anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength, wherein the anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength is from 1.1:1 to 3:1.

Laminate 21: A laminate comprising a plurality of the sheets of Sheet 19.

Laminate 22: The laminate of Laminate 21, wherein each of the sheets has a thickness in a range of 10 to 70 microns.

Laminate 23: The laminate of Laminate 21, wherein each of the sheets is vacuum-heat fused and cross linked to an adjacent sheet.

Laminate 24: The laminate of Laminate 21, wherein each of the sheets is oriented 30 to 45 degrees to an anisotropic grain of an adjacent sheet.

Structure 25: A thermoplastic rubber composite structure having an unbound, reptated internal morphology, wherein a portion of the rigid sulfidic linkages therein are each tethered at an original allylic carbocation and unbound at an original methyl carbocation.

Vulcanized Rubber 26: A vulcanized thermoplastic rubber, wherein a portion of the rigid sulfidic linkages therein are each tethered at an original allylic carbocation and unbound at an original methyl carbocation, and wherein a portion of polymer backbones within the vulcanized rubber are substituted by an acetate moiety.

Interlinked Substituted Rubber 27: An interlinked substituted thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Article 28: A tire tread, tire sidewall, roofing membrane, high dielectric electrical tape, tank lining, reservoir lining, trench lining, bridge underlayment, wire harness wrap, self-bonding wire harness wrap, shoe soles, rubber boots, electrical tape, foundation waterproofing, parking garage waterproofing, hose, belt, or molding comprising a thermoplastic rubber as described herein.

Rubber Tire 29: A rubber tire, wherein from 3% by weight to 15% by weight of the rubber in the tire is prepared using a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Rubber Tire 30: A rubber tire, wherein from 15% by weight to 100% by weight of the rubber in the tire is prepared using a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Tire Tread 31: A tire tread comprising from 10% by weight to 50% by weight of a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Tire Sidewall 32: A tire sidewall comprising from 5% by weight to 100% by weight of a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Asphalt-Rubber Binder 33: An asphalt-rubber binder comprising from 5% by weight to 95% by weight of a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Asphalt Emulsion 34: An asphalt emulsion comprising from 5% by weight to 95% by weight of a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Asphalt Roofing Material 35: An asphalt roofing material comprising from 5% by weight to 95% by weight of a thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein.

Method 36: A method for preparing a thermoplastic rubber, comprising: combining vulcanized rubber particles, a complementary polymer, and an organometallic compound into a mixture, so as to induce delamination of a rubber matrix within the vulcanized rubber particles as coordinated with disrupting sulfidic linkages, and so as to induce crosslinking of the complementary polymer into the polymeric matrix, whereby the polymeric matrix encapsulates carbon black particles.

Method 37: The method of Method 36, wherein combining comprises applying pressure to the mixture.

Method 38: The method of Method 36, wherein combining comprises combining in a roller mill.

Method 39: The method of Method 36, wherein combining takes place in an absence of water as a carrier fluid.

Method 40: The method of Method 36, further comprising reestablishing dislocated sulfidic linkages to establish within the matrix sulfur bridge cross linked, re-aligned, laminates.

Method 41: The method of Method 36, wherein delamination is associated with a portion of rigid sulfidic bridges of the vulcanized rubber particles becoming unbound at an original methyl carbocation while remaining tethered at an original allylic carbocation.

Method 42: The method of Method 36, wherein the organometallic compound comprises a metal having octahedral molecular geometry.

Method 43: The method of Method 36, wherein the organometallic compound comprises a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mn²⁺.

Method 44: The method of Method 36, wherein the organometallic compound comprises an organic anion as a ligand to the metal ion, optionally wherein the organic anion comprises acetate ion.

Method 45: The method of Method 36, wherein the organometallic compound is copper acetate.

Method 46: The method of Method 36, wherein the organometallic compound is a metal salt that undergoes a phase change from solid to liquid in a range of 115-150° C.

Method 47: The method of Method 36, wherein a temperature in the electromechanical reactor is maintained at ambient by use of a cooling jacket or cooling coils.

Method 48: The method of Method 36, wherein the vulcanized rubber crumbs have a particle size greater than 200 mesh.

Thermoplastic Rubber 49: A thermoplastic rubber substantially as described herein comprising a crosslinked network of end-of-life tire-derived rubber and at least one complementary polymer, wherein the polymeric matrix encapsulates carbon black and/or graphene particles.

Thermoplastic Rubber 50: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the complementary polymer comprises virgin natural rubber.

Thermoplastic Rubber 51: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the complementary polymer comprises styrene butadiene/butadiene rubber.

Thermoplastic Rubber 52: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the end-of-life tire-derived rubber and the complementary polymer have different backbone chemistries.

Thermoplastic Rubber 53: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, having an effective particle size of less than 5 microns.

Thermoplastic Rubber 54: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the at least one complementary polymer comprises a hydroxyl-containing polymer.

Thermoplastic Rubber 55: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the at least one complementary polymer comprises a vegetable oil.

Thermoplastic Rubber 56: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the at least one complementary polymer comprises a soybean oil, a castor oil, a linseed oil, a sunflower oil, or a hydrogenated soy oil.

Thermoplastic Rubber 57: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49, wherein the at least one complementary polymer comprises a virgin styrene-butadiene-styrene or virgin butadiene rubber.

Article 58: A sheet of the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49.

Article 59: The sheet of Article 58, exhibiting an anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength, wherein the anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength is at least 1.1:1, optionally from 1.1:1 to 3:1.

Article 60: A laminate comprising a plurality of the sheets of Article 58.

Article 61: The laminate of Article 60, wherein each of the sheets has a thickness of from 10 to 70 microns.

Article 62: The laminate of Article 60, wherein each of the sheets is vacuum-heat fused and cross linked to an adjacent sheet.

Article 63: The laminate of Article 60, wherein each of the sheets is oriented 30 to 45 degrees to an anisotropic grain of an adjacent sheet.

Article 64: A tire tread, tire sidewall, roofing membrane, high dielectric electrical tape, tank lining, reservoir lining, trench lining, bridge underlayment, wire harness wrap, self-bonding wire harness wrap, shoe soles, rubber boots, electrical tape, foundation waterproofing, parking garage waterproofing, hose, belt, or molding comprising the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49.

Article 65: A radiation shielding material comprising the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49.

Article 66: A paving material comprising the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49.

Article 67: A suspension of the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49 in asphalt.

Article 70: A black masterbatch comprising the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 49.

Thermoplastic Rubber 71: A thermoplastic rubber comprising a crosslinked network of end-of-life tire-derived rubber and at least one auxiliary polymer, wherein a reactive moiety of the auxiliary polymer is reacted with a polyaromatic hydrocarbon so as to form a chemical bond, whereby the polymeric matrix sequesters the polyaromatic hydrocarbon.

Thermoplastic Rubber 72: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, wherein the auxiliary polymer is selected from the group consisting of a functionalized butadiene, a functionalized virgin natural rubber and, a functionalized styrene butadiene/butadiene rubber.

Thermoplastic Rubber 73: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, wherein the end-of-life tire-derived rubber and the auxiliary polymer have different backbone chemistries.

Thermoplastic Rubber 74: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, having an effective particle size of less than 5 microns.

Thermoplastic Rubber 75: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, wherein the at least one auxiliary polymer comprises an epoxide group as the moiety.

Thermoplastic Rubber 76: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, in a form of a sheet.

Thermoplastic Rubber 77: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, exhibiting an anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength, wherein the anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength is at least 1.1:1.

Thermoplastic Rubber 78: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, in a form of laminated sheets, wherein each of the sheets has a thickness of from 10 to 70 microns, and wherein each of the sheets is oriented 30 to 45 degrees to an anisotropic grain of an adjacent sheet.

Thermoplastic Rubber 79: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, in a form of an article selected from the group consisting of tire tread, tire sidewall, roofing membrane, high dielectric electrical tape, tank lining, reservoir lining, trench lining, bridge underlayment, wire harness wrap, self-bonding wire harness wrap, shoe soles, rubber boots, electrical tape, foundation waterproofing, parking garage waterproofing, hose, belt, and molding.

Thermoplastic Rubber 80: The thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71, in a form of a radiation shielding material.

Article 81: A paving material comprising the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71.

Article 82: A suspension of the thermoplastic rubber of Thermoplastic Rubber 71 in asphalt.

Method 83: A method for preparing a thermoplastic rubber, comprising: combining vulcanized rubber particles, an auxiliary polymer comprising a reactive moiety, and an organometallic compound into a mixture, so as to induce delamination of a rubber matrix within the vulcanized rubber particles as coordinated with disrupting sulfidic linkages, so as to induce crosslinking of the auxiliary polymer into the polymeric matrix, and so as to induce a chemical reaction between the reactive moiety and a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, whereby the polymeric matrix sequesters the polyaromatic hydrocarbon.

Method 84: Method 83, wherein the organometallic compound is copper acetate.

Method 85: Method 83, wherein the auxiliary polymer is a polybutadiene and wherein the reactive moiety is an epoxide group.

Method 86: Method 83, wherein the reactive moiety is selected from the group consisting of an epoxide group and a urethane group.

Method 87: Method 83, wherein the reactive moiety is an acetate group.

Method 88: Method 83, wherein the auxiliary polymer is an elastomer.

Method 89: Method 83, wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of butadiene, natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, isobutylene-isoprene rubber, styrene-1,4-cis polybutadiene polymer, trans-1,4-polyisoprene, cis-1,4-polyisoprene, natural polyisoprene, synthetic polyisoprene, chloroprene rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, nonhalogenated butyl rubber, silicone rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, nonhydrogenated nitrile rubber, and 1,2-high vinyl butadiene.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein. It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term ‘including’ should be read to mean ‘including, without limitation,’ ‘including but not limited to,’ or the like; the term ‘comprising’ as used herein is synonymous with ‘including,’ ‘containing,’ or ‘characterized by,’ and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps; the term ‘having’ should be interpreted as ‘having at least;’ the term ‘includes’ should be interpreted as ‘includes but is not limited to;’ the term ‘example’ is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; adjectives such as ‘known’, ‘normal’, ‘standard’, and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass known, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future; and use of terms like ‘preferably,’ ‘preferred,’ ‘desired,’ or ‘desirable,’ and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the present technology, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present technology. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘and’ should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction ‘or’ should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as ‘and/or’ unless expressly stated otherwise.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that the upper and lower limit, and each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of the range is encompassed within the embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term ‘about.’ Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of any claims in any application claiming priority to the present application, each numerical parameter should be construed in light of the number of significant digits and ordinary rounding approaches.

Furthermore, although the foregoing has been described in some detail by way of illustrations and examples for purposes of clarity and understanding, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced. Therefore, the description and examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present technology to the specific embodiments and examples described herein, but rather to also cover all modification and alternatives coming with the true scope and spirit of the present technology. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermoplastic rubber comprising a crosslinked network of end-of-life tire-derived rubber and at least one complementary polymer, wherein the polymeric matrix encapsulates at least carbon black particles or graphene particles.
 2. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of a sheet.
 3. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 2, wherein the sheet has an anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength, and wherein the anisotropy in length tensile strength to width tensile strength is at least 1.1:1.
 4. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 2, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of a plurality of laminated sheets, wherein each of the laminated sheets has a thickness of from 10 to 70 microns, and wherein each of the sheets is oriented 30 to 45 degrees to an anisotropic grain of an adjacent one of the plurality of laminated sheets.
 5. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of an article selected from the group consisting of tire tread, tire sidewall, roofing membrane, high dielectric electrical tape, tank lining, reservoir lining, trench lining, bridge underlayment, wire harness wrap, self-bonding wire harness wrap, shoe soles, rubber boots, electrical tape, foundation waterproofing, parking garage waterproofing, hose, belt, and molding.
 6. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of a radiation shielding material.
 7. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of paving material.
 8. The thermoplastic rubber of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rubber is in a form of suspension in asphalt. 